Alexander Costello IM

Alexander Costello (Larax)

International Master Extraordinaire

Meet Alexander Costello, aka Larax—a chess warrior whose title of International Master was hard-earned and well-deserved, despite what their opponents might say after facing those relentless openings! Whether blitzing, bulleting, or calmly plotting rapid and daily games, Alexander’s prowess on the chessboard shines brighter than a queen on an open file.

A Journey Through the Ranks

Starting with humble blitz ratings barely scraping 1000 back in 2011, Alexander has since rocket-launched across the ranks, smashing a phenomenal blitz peak rating of 3010 in 2025—because why settle for “grandmaster” when you can flirt with mythic? Bullet and rapid rating beasts alike, they’ve kept opponents guessing with tactical surprises and a comeback rate north of 76%— because giving up is for pawns, not Larax.

Playing Style & Tactical Wit

With a penchant for deep endgames—68% frequency, to be exact—and an average of 67 moves per victorious game, Alexander plays the long game like a suspense novelist. Their psychological resilience is nothing short of legendary, boasting a tilt factor of just 16, reminding us all that even losing a piece isn’t catastrophic when your comeback win rate sits at almost 52%. Early resignations? Only about 11%, so don’t expect Alexander to quit before the fireworks start.

Favorite Openings & Secret Sauce

Alexander’s opening repertoire is a delightful mystery dubbed Top Secret—used in over 10,000 blitz games! But peek behind the curtain and you’ll find a love for rich, strategic battlegrounds like the Queen's Gambit Accepted Janowski Larsen Variation with a stunning 76% win rate, and the sly Caro-Kann Defense Advance Botvinnik Carls Defense rocking an 80% win rate. Against these, opponents might as well bring their coffee and settle in for the long haul.

Recent Adventures on the Board

Alexander’s recent victories are testament to their skill and stamina: outmaneuvering opponents with elegant resignations and tactical mastery in games where finesse meets ferocity. One shining example is a win by resignation in a Queen's Gambit Accepted Central Variation— proof that Larax’s opponents often wave the white flag well before the endgame.

Fun Fact

Did you know Alexander plays best around noon? So if you want to catch Larax at their absolute psychological peak, set your alarm for 12:00 and prepare for a battle.

In summary, Alexander Costello isn’t just climbing the chess ladder—they’re building a chess skyscraper. Meticulous, resilient, and cunningly tactical, Larax shows the chess world there’s no such thing as too many knights or too much time on the clock. Just don’t ask them to pick favorites: with their Top Secret moves, they keep us all guessing!